Best Software to Clean of old computers

[comp615]

Hi I am just wondering what the best software is to clean off computer drives. Free is nice, since its for a non-profit orginization, but basically I just need to ensure that if the former owner had secured data on there it is unaccessible (I have GetDataBack, and know you must actually write over the space before it goes away)

[thefultonhow]

Look for a program that does an DOD-spec drive wipe.

[rightcoast]

This is a great one, Darik's Boot and Nuke. It will wipe to DoD (Department of Defense) specs. It will take time to do a DoD wipe, however. Lots for a big hard drive, so keep that in mind.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

[Force Flow]

You could do a full reformat and then a zero fill using the HDD's manufacturer's disk tools.

[Cricket]

KillDisk

Cricket

[flanzig1]

I've used Killdisc which is free on computers at work that I've had to wipe.

[rightcoast]

Just keep in mind that with the free version of killdisk you can recover those files. Not the average person mind you, but some people can.

I have used it before though and it is a good program with a simple interface. Those are the two best choices for sure though (Killdisk or D's B&N).

It just depends on what that data really is, and how paranoid you are

If you go with Boot & Nuke, be sure to label that disk clearly or throw it out...it can be sneaky if left unlabeled

[TheJackal]

Fdisk is good and format from an OS CD will work...

Depends on how paranoid you are... A hammer works nicely too.

But then again, if someone is desperate enough, they will be able to recover your data.

[rightcoast]

The NSA can now recover 30 passes

Not that you probably have a lot to hide, but still, I would use B & N. Not many "mere mortals" can touch 3 passes, never mind 7 or 10.

Fdisk is fine for prepping your own drive for a re-install, or maybe if you know it's going to your grandma or something, but I wouldn't sell a drive that you fdisk. All you've done is remove the file table, not the actual data. I Googled for a horror story, but came up with a kind of interesting and informative one that works better.

http://orig.citizen-times.com/cache/...ss/54199.shtml

Like Jackel says, hammers and acid are always options

[eXe]

So you need to use Peter Gutmann's algorithm or Bruce Schneier's algorithm to destroy your data. Only program which has it called Acronis Privacy Expert Suite 8.0. Also there are a lot of other destruction methods. You can Choose anyone you need. If you want to try it, i mean destory data and then try to recover it via GetDataBack just download Free Trial Version. You don't even have to buy it

[rightcoast]

Boot and Nuke uses the Gutmann Wipe, The Department of Defense standards wipe, and The Royal Canadian Mouted Police wipe among others. It can also do unlimited passes. It is easier to give a HDD an acid bath than wait 2 weeks for 30 passes to complete though. So, Acronis is definitely not the only one with the Gutmann wipe. About Bruce Schneier's alogorithim, I know he wrote blowfish, but I didn't know he wrote a wipe utility too. Are you sure that Acronis Privacy Expert doesn't refer to that (blowfish encryption) as part of it's privacy suite? I mean it might include the encryption algorithim, but I have never heard of a Schneier wipe. But you can securely (as possible anyway) delete a drive with the open-source (free) Darik's B & N and save yourself the cost of the commercial program.
HTH